Come Party With Me: Fall Dinner - Drinks

To salute fall's arrival, I will make a big pitcher of a signature cocktail for my fall dinner party. The cocktail, an orange tequila concoction, has the gorgeous color of an autumn sunset. Make the cocktail an hour or two before the party starts. When guests arrive all you have to do is shake over ice and strain into the prepared champagne flutes.

Get several bottles of the same wine — one white and one red — to pair with dinner. When pairing wine with roast chicken, pay attention to the chicken's seasonings — in my case it's lots of fresh herbs, so a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Barbera would suffice. A delicate and buttery Chardonnay is an excellent choice for a white. At dinner, pour guests a cool glass of water with orange slices and rosemary sprigs.